Saints get right matchup

Saturday

Dec 8, 2012 at 8:00 PMDec 8, 2012 at 8:25 PM

If you have read my column for the past 17 years, you know that I am a big matchup guy.

Mike Detillier NFL Analyst

If you have read my column for the past 17 years, you know that I am a big matchup guy.There are certain teams and certain players that play better against some teams and not quite up to their high standards against others.It is the reason a team like the St. Louis Rams have tied and beaten the San Francisco 49ers this season, while the 49ers match up so well against the New Orleans Saints. For many years, the New England Patriots had the number of the second-best team in the AFC — Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. For years, the Colts version of kryptonite was the Patriots. As the rugged Patriots defense got old, they decided to part ways with some key players, including defensive lineman Richard Seymour (traded to the Oakland Raiders), allowing the pendulum swung to the Colts.The Saints are 11-3 in the last 14 game against the Atlanta Falcons, and the New York Giants have dominanted the Green Bay Packers in recent years.A similar type team like New Orleans has produced totally different result.The Saints have not just won the past three games against the Giants since 2006. They dominated and outscored the Giants 127-58 and beat the Giants by more than 21 points each time.It has not been all Drew Brees. He has been good against the Giants, throwing for 864 yards and nine touchdowns, but the most important stat is that he has not thrown an interception in those three games.And the Saints have played a brand of smash-mouth football the Giants don’t match up well against. In those three games, Brees’ numbers have been good, but the Saints rushing attack has been outstanding. They rushed for 236 yards on 53 carries in 2006, 124 yards on 40 carries in 2009 and 205 yards on 30 carries last season.The Saints have neutralized the Giants’ ferocious pass rush by beating them at the point of attack and blowing them off the line of scrimmage.Today, the Saints must have the same commitment to the run that they have had the last three games, allowing Mark Ingram and Pierre Thomas carry this team, along with the offensive line.Last season, Ingram had one of the best games of his career, rushing for 80 yards on 13 carries, and Thomas added 63 yards on eight carries.If it ain’t broke, why try and change the positive results.It has worked and will work today, if the Saints are patient with the rushing attack.The other part is that the Saints are the best run after catch team in the NFL since 2006, and the Giants defensive backs are not the best open-field tacklers.The Saints don’t match up well against teams like San Francisco, Chicago Bears, Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens because their secondary make the tackle almost immediately after the catch and eliminate the hidden yards.Today, the Saints must make at least three or four plays for significant yardage after the catch, meaning getting the ball more to wide receiver Marques Colston and tight end Jimmy Graham. Both are size matchup nightmares and have the ability to make something happen after the catch.In the last three meetings against the Giants, Colston has caught 15 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns. Last season, Graham caught five passes for 84 yards and two scores.It’s not reinventing the wheel. It’s what has worked and go right back to it over and over again.The Giants linebackers and secondary are not the best openfield tacklers, so the Saints must go to their most consistent playmakers on the edge when they are not running the ball.And on defense, the Saints must make the Giants one-dimensional.The Saints defense has done a good job of shutting down the Giants rushing attack the last three games. The Giants rushed for 83 yards on 18 carries in 2006, 84 yards on 19 carries in 2008 and 73 yards on 22 carries last season.It was put on the shoulders of Eli Manning each of those games to make key passing plays, and we have all seen that without the benefit of a good rushing attack and a commitment to the run even someone like Brees has become a mere mortal.Finally, the Saints must start to win again in the fourth quarter. Last season, the Saints outscored their opponents 153-89 in the fourth quarter. This season, the Saints are being outscored 78-62.The Saints’ rushing woes has resulted in turnovers, and they must control the tempo of this game with a strong running attack, more usage of Colston and Graham and stop the Giants running game. It makes it a lot easier to win the game in the fourth quarter.Today, the Saints win the matchup again against the Giants.When the Saints rush the ball for more than 120 yards or more, they are 33-2 in the Sean Payton era. Why change now?

JORDAN EMERGING FOR SAINTSWhen you look at some of the top pass rushers in the NFL this season, you just shake your head in disbelief at the talent that came out of the 2011 draft.The biggest impact players rushing the quarterback this season have been San Francisco outside linebacker Aldon Smith, Houston defensive end J.J. Watt and Denver outside linebacker Von Miller.Those three players have not just been good but great in getting consistent pressure on the quarterback and changing plays with their unique skillset and ability to run the field.Throw in Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston (10 sacks) and St. Louis defensive end Robert Quinn (8½ sacks) and that raises the 2011 draft class to another level.But for Saints fans, it has been the development of defensive end Cameron Jordan that has jumped out.Jordan was selected 24th overall in the first round of the 2011 draft class, and his overall play, speed and play recognition skills are steps better than what we saw from him last season.He has also developed into a good pass rusher, especially from the interior, and his constant pressure makes him the best player along the Saints front four.In time, defensive tackle Akiem Hicks will become that player for the Saints, but right now, Jordan is the best defensive player.I have said that he reminds me a lot of Giants defensive end/tackle Justin Tuck.Tuck’s breakout year was 2007, his third season in the NFL. That season, he recorded 65 tackles, 10 sacks, two pass deflections and two forced fumbles.This season, Jordan has 51 tackles, seven sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass deflection.Like Tuck, Jordan has been impressive as a good edge pass rusher, but where he really makes a difference is when they move him inside and he gets that quick penetration from the middle.Jordan’s former defensive coordinator at the University of California, Clancy Pendergast, said Jordan would turn out to be a good NFL pass rusher days after the Saints picked him, but he felt he could be special working from inside upfront.“I have preached to Cameron that he can be as good as he wants to be, if his focus is there,” Pendergast said. “He’s a unique player with a real mean streak in him. Don’t let that cut up personality fool you. He’s someone who will give you great effort and he comes to play with a blue-collar work ethic each week. He’s a big guy coming from the defensive end spot, and it is rare to see those body types develop into great pass rushers. But Cameron can be a real good one. Where he will make a splash and quick is when they move him inside. He will just out quick, out athletic and out maneuver those interior offensive linemen. They won’t be able to block him. I speak to him often about keeping his weight down and maximizing the athletic part of his game. I coached in the NFL for quite some time and never had anyone like him. The Saints got a real good player in Cameron, but they will find out quick just how good he is in run support. Right now, his upside is in the development of his pass rush skills.”The interesting part is that Steve Spagnuolo was the defensive coordinator with the Giants when Tuck made his move, and now Spagnuolo is putting Jordan in a similar position with the Saints.Tuck has done it over the course of time and been a real impact defensive lineman. Now, Jordan looks to be on the brink of the same in New Orleans.

INTERESTING STATThe New Orleans Saints have created 17 turnovers this season in 12 games. Last season in 16 games on a (13-3) team the Saints got just 16 total turnovers.

NFL analyst Mike Detillier lives in Raceland.

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